Best summer recipe ideas

Bask in the rich flavours of summer with our favourite seasonal recipes, including fresh and healthy salads, homemade dishes, sweet treats and refreshing drinks.

The summer season brings out the very best of British produce, with bushes full with berries and vegetable patches bursting with asparagus, tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, radishes, beans and spring onions.

Plus, the cooking options are endless in summer, with barbecues providing ample opportunity for entertaining and outdoor dining. Toss your salad, grab a kebab and start chargrilling some veggies.

Make the most of the British summer season with our pick of the best summer walks and beaches in the UK. If a picnic is what you have in mind, check out our round-up of the best picnic food recipes for summer.

Best summer recipes

Smoked Trout, watercress and horseradish quiche

Quiches are a classic picnic food, and this smoked trout and horseradish quiche really easy to make at home.

Vegan fava bean falafels

The majority of the pulses we eat in Britain are imported from farms across the world – except the humble fava bean. These authentic Egyptian falafels, made with split fava beans, are the perfect addition to a summer BBQ and great to take on picnics.

Pork and pickle pies

These pork pies are designed for a picnic - they have pickle inside the pastry so it doesn't slide off your plate.

Moroccan lamb and quince sausage rolls

Whether it's a picnic or a somewhat snazzy lunchbox, these lamb sausage rolls put a spicy twist on a classic recipe. From Stuart Ovenden's The Orchard Cook, they're best enjoyed with a delicious mint and yogurt dip.

Apple, goat’s cheese, honey and hazelnut tarts

These tarts are quick and easy to make and ideal for a summer picnic. The recipe can easily be adapted using different cheese or herbs.

Vegan ‘sausage’ rolls in coconut pastry

These gluten, vegan ‘sausages’ rolls, made of cooked red lentils and roasted pepper, are perfect for packed lunches – you can swap the filling for sausagemeat, if you prefer.

Savoury stilton scones

These savoury scones can be frozen, so it's easy to make a big batch then defrost before your outing.

Best summer breakfast recipes

Asparagus and sweet potato hash with smashed avocado and egg

This fresh and easy vegetarian brunch is perfect for the summer months – just spice it up with jalapenos or chilli flakes to taste.

Best summer barbecue recipes

Barbecued plaice with fennel seed, chilli, aubergine and tomatoes

Cook up a delicious seashore supper from foraged greens and sustainable chef with this great recipe from River Cottage chef Gill Meller.

Hedgerow ketchup

Forage in the hedgerow for the elderberries, blackberries and crab apples for this delicious summer sauce, which will add a delicious alternative to your usual barbecue ketchup accompaniment.

Best summer salad recipes

Broad bean, potato and radish salad

This fresh, green salad has all the tastes of spring and summer - crunchy greens and radishes, sweet broad beans and new potatoes.

Tomato and raspberry salad

This easy-to-make salad is a real taste of the English summer.

Summer garden salad

Rejoice in the fresh tastes of early summer with a garden salad with a recipe from Kathy Bishop and Tom Crowford on their Somerset smallholding.

Grilled new potato salad

May sees the first crop of new potatoes, so grab a few and grill them with crunchy spring onions and little gem lettuce in this flavoursome salad.

Best summer dessert recipes with seasonal ingredients

Little cherry and almond cakes

An incredibly quick, one-bowl bake that you can whip up in minutes.

Apple and blackberry crumble squares

Like classic fruit crumble but in a cuttable, transportable bar, use up your hand-picked blackberries to make these delicious crumble squares.

Classic scones

Whip up a fresh batch of homemade scones for a cream tea with this easy recipe.

Blackberry coulis

This easy-to-make blackberry coulis uses only three ingredients and freezes well, making it the perfect recipe to use up the blackberries you’ve picked during the summer months- keep a batch in the freezer and use it as a topping the next time you make pancakes or chocolate fudge cake.

Blackberry and apple sorbet

This fruity sorbet recipe uses golden syrup instead of granulated sugar gives to give it a soft texture. If you can, use blackberries that you’ve picked yourself from the hedgerow – they taste far more intense than the big fat ones you buy in the shops.

Summer ice lollies

Cool down with these refreshing orange, satsuma and carrot ice lollies for all the family.

Bilberry and almond streusel cake

Late summer is a great time to harvest bilberries in the UK. They're a delicious alternative for anyone who finds blueberries a little too sweet.

Best homemade summer drink recipes

Homemade elderflower cordial

Enjoy a fresh and fragrant drink with easy and delicious elderflower cordial recipe - the perfect summer drink.

Gooseberry soda

Make a refreshing, fruity summer drink with a recipe from Kathy Bishop and Tom Crowford on their Somerset smallholding.

Homemade elderflower cordial

The floral taste of this traditional syrup is great with water, but also complements pastries, cakes, ice-cream and champagne or prosecco.